NCJ Number
15014
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
METHOD FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUDGES OF COURTS OF ALL LEVELS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A RECOMMENDATION TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT FOR THE RETIREMENT OR REMOVAL OF UNFIT JUDGES.
Abstract
THE NEED FOR MEANS TO REMOVE INCOMPETENT OR DISABLED JUDGES FROM OFFICE IS FIRST DISCUSSED. THE AUTHOR QUOTES THE CITIZENS' CONFERENCE ON FLORIDA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHICH OUTLINED THE NEED FOR NONPARTISAN SELECTION OF JUDGES AND A METHOD TO DISCIPLINE OR REMOVE UNFIT JUDGES. THIS CONFERENCE SUGGESTED AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO CONFIDENTIALLY INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUDGES. THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION, ESTABLISHED IN 1960 TO CONDUCT THIS TYPE OF INVESTIGATION IS THEN DESCRIBED. COMPOSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION ARE INDICATED. AS OF 1964, THE COMMISSION HAD RECEIVED 344 COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUDGES, INVESTIGATED 118 OF THESE, AND DIRECTLY CAUSED THE RETIREMENT OR RESIGNATION OF 26 JUDGES. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT A COMMISSION SUCH AS THIS, WHICH MAINTAINS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INVESTIGATIONS, SERVES TO REMOVE INCOMPETENT JUDGES WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE REPUTATION OF THE JUDICIAL PROFESSION.